The announced Black Panther game will probably never see the light of day. EA is also closing down the two-year-old studio Cliffhanger Games.
EA cuts more jobs. After more than 300 employees lost their jobs just a month ago and two projects were scrapped – including a Titanfall game – Cliffhanger Games is now also affected.
The young studio was working on an action-adventure game in which players would have controlled the king of Wakanda and Marvel superhero Black Panther through an open world. The project is also off the table.
EA wants to focus on proven brands
The news was announced IGN in an email to employees. EA Entertainment President Laura Miele signed the message. According to the message, the cuts were made “to sharpen our focus and concentrate our creative energy on the most important growth opportunities.”
EA Entertainment therefore intends to focus primarily on the Battlefield, Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends brands in the future. However, the third Star Wars: Jedi game will continue to be developed, as will the next Mass Effect and an announced Iron Man game.
The hugely successful EA Sports games, such as the FIFA successor EA Sports FC 24, were not mentioned here because Miele is the president of EA Entertainment and therefore responsible for a different sector.
We are doing everything we can to support them – including looking for opportunities within EA where we have successfully helped people transition to new roles.
Marvel and EA not done yet
Black Panther was originally part of a three-game deal between Marvel and EA. In addition to Iron Man, another title is in the works, but has not yet been revealed. At least, nothing is known about whether this project is also affected by the cuts.
Miele also emphasizes: Our partnership with Marvel remains strong and our long-term collaboration on multiple titles will continue.
Those who want even more Marvel in their gaming life will still have plenty to look forward to in the coming years, even without Black Panther and EA: Insomniac is working on Marvel’s Wolverine, Arkane is working on Marvel’s Blade, and in the upcoming Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, we’ll get to play alongside Captain America and even Black Panther – albeit probably T’Challa’s grandfather.
